Binge or Skip: Is Netflix’s Horror Hit Monster: The Ed Gein Story Worth Watching?

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Looking for something new to watch? Ebaster’s “Binge or Skip” series helps you choose. This week, we’re checking out Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the popular new horror series on Netflix. It’s been a hit with viewers since its release in early October 2025, consistently ranking among the top shows on Netflix worldwide.

While the first two seasons of Monster were popular with viewers and even received Emmy recognition, critics had a mixed reaction. Season 3 is facing similar criticism, currently holding a very low 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the lowest score for the series so far. Regardless of the reviews, Monster: The Ed Gein Story is still attracting a lot of viewers. So, with Halloween approaching, is it worth checking out?

Why You Should Press Play On Monster: The Ed Gein Story

If you’re looking for a spooky watch for Halloween, Monster: The Ed Gein Story might be a good choice. If you liked the first or second seasons of Monster, season 3 could be worth checking out, especially to form your own opinion since it’s received some negative reviews.

Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal of Ed Gein is a standout performance in the series – he truly immersed himself in the role and underwent a complete transformation. The third season of Monster also features a strong cast, including Suzanna Son, Vicky Krieps, Laurie Metcalf, Lesley Manville, and Addison Rae.

Another interesting part of the story explores how Ed Gein inspired classic horror films like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Movie fans will likely enjoy seeing these connections, even though the films don’t always follow Gein’s life in a strictly chronological way.

Why You May Want To Pass On Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

It’s hard to discuss Monster: The Ed Gein Story without mentioning its disturbing and graphic scenes, which are often prolonged and feel unnecessarily shocking. The show is generally unsettling and could easily make viewers feel sick. If you’re sensitive to depictions of body horror, you likely won’t enjoy Monster.

You might be wondering – shouldn’t a horror series be scary? Absolutely. But Monster starts to lose viewers because it oddly tries to make you feel sympathy for the villain, which is confusing. What’s most frustrating is how much the series changes the details of the real-life crime story. If you want to know what Ed Gein’s life was actually like, you’re better off reading a book or watching a documentary – this isn’t a faithful retelling of his story.

Binge Or Skip Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Our Expert Recommendation

Courtesy of Netflix

Bingeability Weak – The pace is slow, the series drags with 8 episodes
Performances Strong – Hunnam is fully convincing, performances are solid
Story Mid – There are interesting parts, but it’s very inaccurate
Setting Mid – There are a few repetitive locations, nothing special
Perfect For Fans Of Body Horror, True Crime, Ryan Murphy, Charlie Hunnam

We recommend skipping this one. The initial excitement has passed, and it’s a slow, often frustrating series to watch. While fans of the Monster series might find something to enjoy, it takes significant liberties with the source material. There are plenty of other excellent horror options available. If you’re still curious, you can try it, but don’t expect a great experience – you likely won’t be missing much, and might even regret watching it.

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2025-10-24 19:11